Automatic nozzle with safety shutoff valve



1966 A. F. ROMANOWSKI AUTOMATIC NOZZLE WITH SAFETY SHUTOFF VALVE Filed Feb. 17, 1966 jNvENToR ALBERT F. Romauowsxl F'F'ERS Jouma Avonuavs w de United States Patent (3 3,288,179 AUTOMATIC NOZZLE WITH SAFETY SHUTOFF VALVE Albert F. Romanowski, Greeneville, Tenn., assignor to Bowser, Inc., Greeneville, Tenn., a corporation of Indiana Filed Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,267 4 Claims. (Cl. 141-225) The invention relates to an automatic nozzle for dispensing liquids, and particularly to such an automatic nozzle that stops dispensing a liquid either when a predetermined level in the container is reached, or when the nozzle is removed, unseated, or falls from the container.

In gasoline filling stations, the nozzle which dispenses gasoline from a pump to a tank or container may be equipped with a latching, vacuum type, shutoff valve. This valve is automatically closed in response to the level of gasoline in the tank reaching a predetermined level on the nozzle. T his valve permits the attendant or the customer (in a self-service station) to place the nozzle in the tank, to latch the nozzle valve open, and to perform other duties or activities while the gasoline isbeing dispensed, all with the assurance that the nozzle valve will be properly and timely shut off. However, there is no assurance that the nozzle valve will be shut off if the nozzle falls from the tank, or, in the case of an unattended, selfservice station, if acustomer, not familiar with'the nozzle operation, removes the nozzle without closing the 'valve. These and other situations may result in the gasoline or any other liquid being dispensed into the open with corresponding danger and waste.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing nozzle that shuts off in response to the dispensed liquid reaching a predetermined level on the nozzle, or in response to the nozzle being removed, unseated, or falling from the container.

Another object of the invention'is to provide an improved gasoline nozzle of the latching, vacuum type, shutofi" valve that automatically closes the valve and stops the fiow of gasoline if the gasoline reaches a predetermined level on the nozzle, or, if the nozzle is unseated, removed, or falls from the gasoline tank or container.

Many existing gasoline dispensing nozzles have the latching, vacuum'type, shutoif valve. But, these valves will not automatically shut off if removed or if they fall from the tank. Owners and operators of gasoline stations realize the desirability of such automatic or dead man type nozzles, but have not modified or changed their nozzles to include this feature because of the difficulty and expense of such a modification or change.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to pro vide an arrangement that can be easily applied to existing gasoline nozzles having a latching, vacuum type, shutoff valve so as to unlatch and close the valve if the nozzle becomes unseated or removed from the container or tank.

Briefly, these and other objects .are achieved with a known dispensing nozzle having a latching, vacuum, shutoff valve type. Such a valve can be latched open, and will remain open as long as there is a predetermined air pressure in a chamber. A first tube or duct connected to the chamber draws air from the chamber in response to the flow of liquid through the nozzle. This air is replaced (and hence the predetermined pressure is maintained) by a second tube or duct which opens to the surrounding air through the nozzle wall near its dispensing end. If liquid or gasoline rises to a level so as to cover the opening of the second duct, then the air pressure in the chamber falls and the nozzle valve will be unlatched and closed. In accordance with the invention, a flanged sleeve is placed on the nozzle near the dispensing end and contained by two collars. The sleeve is mechanically or spring biased 3,2831% Patented Nov. 29, 1966 to normally cover the second duct opening. The nozzle valve can be latched open only if the nozzle is positioned in the container and supported on the sleeve flange in the proper position so that the nozzle weight overcomes the sleeve bias and exposes the second duct opening. If the nozzle is unseated or jarred from its proper position, or if the nozzle is removed or falls from the container, the second duct opening will become covered by the sleeve and the valve will be unlatched and shut 011 the flow of liquid. Or, if the liquid rises above the level of the second duct opening, the valve will be unlatched and closed so as to shut off the flow of liquid.

The invention will be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view of a gasoline dispensing nozzle having the shutoif arrangement in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the nozzle of FIGURE 1, with parts in section or broken away, to show how the arrangement in accordance with the invention covers the duct opening; and

FIGURE 3 shows a view similar to FIGURE 2 to show how the arrangement in accordance with the invention exposes the duct opening.

In the figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts. FIGURE 1 shows a dispensing nozzle 10 with which the safety shutofr arrangement of the invention is used. The nozzle 10 comprises a hollow handle 11 which connects to a tube or hose 12 that leads to a gasoline pump. Beyond the handle 11 is a valve and chamber 13 of the vacuum shutoff type which, when operated, permits gasoline to flow from the hose 12, through the handle 11, and out of the dispensing tube 14 of the nozzle 10. Details of this valve and chamber 13 have not been shown in the drawing since their specific structure is not essential to the invention. An example of such a valve and chamber 13 is shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,936,799, granted to L. Mannon on May 17, 1960. As described in that patent, the automatic vacuum valve and chamber have a first duct which connects the chamber to the gasoline flow line at any convenient point. When gasoline is flowing, the flow line tends to create a vacuum or low pressure in the chamber. A second duct (shown with reference numeral 15 in the drawing) is connected to the chamber 13, passes through the dispensing tube 14 of the nozzle 10, and opens outwardly at an opening 16 through the tube wall near the front end of the tube 14. When the opening 16 of the second duct 15 is exposed, air may flow through the second duct 15 to the chamber 13 and maintain the chamber pressure. If for any reason the second duct opening 16 is blocked or closed, the pressure in the chamber 13 is reduced. If the nozzle trigger 17 has been latched so that the valve is open, this reduced pressure will cause the trigger 17 to be unlatched so that the valve is closed. The nozzle 10 as so far described is known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, a cylindrical sleeve 18 is positioned around or on the dispensing tube 14 of the nozzle 10. This sleeve 18 is dimensioned so that it can slide easily on the tube 14 without excessive play or clearance. The sleeve 18 comprises a flange 19 which, as will be explained, serves as a rest or-support for the nozzle 10. A bias spring 20 or similar mechanical device is mounted on or around the nozzle dispensing tube 14, and is contained by an upper ring collar 21 fastened in a groove around the tube 14. The spring 20 is a compression spring that urges or forces the sleeve 18 toward the front end of the tube 14, or downward as viewed in FIGURE 1. This spring 20 may fit within an enlargement of the sleeve 18, or may engage the sleeve 18 at its flange 19. A lower ring collar 22 is fastened by a pin 23 around the tube 14 at the front end, so as to contain the other end of the sleeve 18. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 1, the sleve 18 is slidably positioned on the front end of the dispensing tube 14 of the nozzle 10, and is held or contained between the upper collar 21 and the lower collar 22. The sleeve 18 may be moved against the spring force upward on the tube 14 toward the upper collar 21 (or in another sense, the nozzle tube 14 may be moved downward within the sleeve 18) so as to expose the opening 16 of the second duct 15.

FIGURE 2 shows a detailed view of the sleeve 18 mounted on the front end of the dispensing tube 14, and retained between the two collars 21, 22. The spring 20 is shown in an enlargement 24 in the sleeve 18. It will also be seen that the interior surface of the sleeve 18 covers the opening 16 of the second duct 15 so that very little or no air can enter the second duct 15 and the chamber 13. Thus, the valve mentioned in connection with FIGURE 1 could not be latched open under this condition.

FIGURE 3 shows a similar detailed view of the sleeve 18 when inserted in a container 30 (partly shown) with its flange 19 resting on a rim 31 of the container opening. FIGURE 3 shows how the weight of the nozzle urges or forces the nozzle downward with respect to the sleeve 18 so as to expose the opening 16 of the second duct 15. With the nozzle 10 in this position, if the trigger 17 is operated and the valve latched open, gasoline flows from the hose 12, through the handle 11, through the dispensing tube 14 as indicated by the large arrow, and, into the container. Air is permitted to enter the opening 16 of the second duct and maintain the pressure in the vacuum chamber 13 against the removal of air by the first duct. Thus, the valve remains latched open. If the nozzle 10 becomes jarred, or unseated, or tilted, or removed, or if it falls from the container so that the sleeve 18 can slide forward (under the force of the spring and cover the opening 16 of the second duct 15, then the supply of air is cut oif from the vacuum chamber 13, and the nozzle valve will be unlatched and closed. Also, as is conventional, if the level of liquid or gasoline rises above the opening 16 of the second duct 15, the supply of air to the vacuum chamber 13 is cut 011 and the nozzle valve will be unlatched and closed.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a new and improved arrangement for automatically cutting off a latching, vacuum type, shutoff dispensing nozzle for liquids such as gasoilne if the nozzle is jarred, unseated, or falls from its container. The sleeve and spring arrangement for accomplishing this automatic shutoff is easily adapted to existing nozzles by simply adding the first collar, sliding the sleeve over the nozzle, and adding the second collar. The collars can be held in grooves, or by pins, or in any suitable fashion. Furthermore, the collars may take other forms besides the rings shown. The spring and upper collar may be combined in any suitable way. The sleeve and spring arrangement lends itself to easy and precise adjustment so that the amount of force or pressure required to move the nozzle downward with respect to the sleeve and expose the second duct opening, or conversely, the force required for the sleeve to slide downward on the nozzle and close the second duct opening can be easily and precisely adjusted. This adjustment can be provided by providing springs of different compression force, or by having one of the collars threaded, or by a threaded bushing in the collar enlargement. The dimensions and motion of the sleeve are such as to make the nozzle still adaptable or useful in containers of small opening sizes, with the flange providing the necessary support for the nozzle. And, the flange can be modified in any way desired, such as having radical spokes rather than the circular or ring structure shown. And finally the location of the second duct opening may be at any suitable point as long as the sleeve can slide over it. Such modifications, as well as others not described, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispensing nozzle having a valve that can be latched open, a pressure sensitive chamber and mechanism responsive thereto for closing said latched valve in response to the pressure in said chamber falling below a predetermined magnitude, and a duct connected to said chamber and having an opening in the vicinity of the end of said nozzle, the improvement comprising:

(a) a sleeve slidably mounted on said nozzle in the vicinity of said end;

(b) mechanical biasing means attached to said nozzle and to said sleeve to urge said sleeve toward said nozzle end and cover said duct opening;

(c) means fastened to said nozzle end to limit the motion of said sleeve toward said nozzle end;

(d) and support means fastened to said sleeve for resting said nozzle on a projection so that the weight of said nozzle causes said nozzle end to move relative to said sleeve and expose said duct opening.

2. The nozzle defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve surrounds said nozzle and wherein said mechanical biasing means comprises a spring. I

3. An improved arrangement for closing the valve of a vacuum shutofi nozzle that requires said valve to be latched open and that operates a mechanism to close said valve in response to reduced air pressure in a duct leading from said valve mechanism to an outside opening in the wall of the nozzle dispensing tube, said improvement comprising:

(a) first and second spaced retaining elements positioned on said nozzle dispensing tube on opposite sides of said outside opening;

(b) a cylindrical sleeve slidably positioned around said dispensing tube between said retaining elements and dimensioned so that said sleeve covers said outside opening when engaging said first retaining element and so that said sleeve exposes said outside opening when urged toward said second retaining element;

(c) bias means associated with said second retaining element to urge said sleeve toward said first retaining element; I

(d) and means fastened to said sleeve for supporting said nozzle for dispensing therefrom.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first and second retaining elements comprise ring collars surrounding said dispensing tube, and said bias means comprise a spring surrounding said dispensing tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,941 3/1938 Payne 141-225 X 2,818,890 1/1958 Ryan 141-225 3,005,476 10/1961 Klaus 222-52 X 3,173,579 3/1965 Curie et al 222-523 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE HAVING A VALVE THAT CAN BE LATCHED OPEN, A PRESSURE SENSITIVE CHAMBER AND MECHANISM RESPONSIVE THERETO FOR CLOSING SAID LATCHED VALVE IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSURE IN SAID CHAMBER FALLING BELOW A PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE, AND A DUCT CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING AN OPENING IN THE VICINITY OF THE END OIF SAID NOZZLE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A SLEEVE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID NOZZLE IN THE VICINITY OF SAID END; (B) MECHANICAL BIASING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID NOZZLE AND TO SAID SLEEVE TO URGE SAID SLEEVE TOWARD SAID NOZZLE END AND COVER SAID DUCT OPENING; (C) MEANS FASTENED TO SAID NOZZLE END TO LIMIT THE MOTION OF SAID SLEEVE TOWARD SAID NOZZLE END; (D) AND SUPPORT MEANS FASTENED TO SAID SLEEVE FOR RESTING SAID NOZZLE ON A PROJECTION SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF SAID NOZZLE CAUSES SAID NOZZLE END TO MOVE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE AND EXPOSE SAID DUCT OPENING. 